A/N: Series written for the Diversity Writing Challenge, L20, and for the AU Devil of Doom Challenge, #4 – contextual reassignment AU.

To explain the series, Wish Journeys is a Digimon crossover (particularly seasons 1, 4 and 5) with Brave Story. It has four main stories (x): 1. Three Brothers, 2. Two Best Friends, 3. Growing Stronger & 4. Final Day. All four have oneshots as prequels (x.0.y) and sequels (x.2.y) – which is the numbering. You can read this before the prequels/sequels or after it – one will have spoilers for the other, depending on how you read. :D

.

.

Wish Journeys 1.1
Three Brothers

Chapter 1/Takuya

.

Takuya stood on the hospital roof. The hospital itself was becoming a constant fixture in his life but it was the first time he'd come to the roof.

And his first impression that it was lonely. Cold.

The second was that there was something unusual about the door to the other elevator. The one he'd come out of was normal looking: silver, steel. But the one on the other side was gold.

And as he drew near, it seemed to push him back.

He didn't think to fight it then.

.

Later, he sat by his brother's bedside again. There were no flowers now. They'd all become rotten, so he'd tossed them away. The packets of sweets were colour enough though. Not that Shinya had opened his eyes in weeks to look at them.

He didn't say anything. Once upon a time, it would have been quite rare to see him speechless – but that was before the fight. Before Shinya became like this. Before Takuya was smacked in the face with his failure.

If only I could go back and change it…

That man in the cloak had pointed him to the roof. And there'd been no harm in going. No harm in entertaining that notion.

But he was lying to himself. There was a harm. He really wanted a way to change this. To turn back time so he could save his little brother from this pain.

Maybe…he was supposed to push against that door.

.

Visiting hours passed almost uneventfully. The only things that happened that were eventful had nothing to do with them.

The first was another kid was admitted into the ICU. 'About your age,' the nurse said, nodding in Takuya's dimension.

Takuya hadn't really been paying attention, so he caught the comment but let it slither by.

The second was that someone had disappeared from the ICU. Maybe the same kid. Maybe someone else.

Though why someone well enough to wander off by themselves was in the ICU was beyond Takuya. Though there might have been someone else involved.

The third, was when Takuya went up to the roof again, he saw the door open and something white vanishing in to it.

One of the sheets? A lot of white bed sheets were flapping in the breeze, on the clothes line.

But the door was open. That was the important thing.

Will going through…give me my wish?

He walked forward. Something pushed him back but this time he pushed as well. Pushed and struggled on.

His mind didn't stop him. Didn't say that it was a fantasy. That it was impossible.

Finally, he fell through the door.

.

'You're not falling.'

He blinked and opened his eyes. The voice was right. He was being carried by something that rolled and floated.

He looked down. In fact, it was many somethings. Pink and blue and green. Like squashy balls: the sort they'd play with when they were still in preschool. Jumping into a pit full of them without being hurt in the least.

He wondered how he was supposed to get a wish granted like this.

'Patience, Chosen.'

It was the same voice from before. Takuya steadied himself on the floating things and looked around.

'You will come face to face with me soon enough, Chosen.'

He couldn't even tell if it was male or female. 'Why do you call me Chosen?' he asked. It didn't sound like there'd be a point in asking who the speaker was.

'A Chosen is one who can pass through the gate.' There was a pause. 'In truth, one who passes the test as well, but you look like you'll pass.'

'Test?' Takuya repeated. Thank goodness he'd been studying more. Though it would be ironic that it was his improved grades that wound up saving Shinya.

There was a chuckle as that thought crossed his mind, and then the things carried him sped up until everything blurred.

.

He was falling again. Someone was singing somewhere too. Something about leaves and croaks…

He landed face-down in something soft. Four pillars stood, a fire lit at each of them.

'Wisdom…'

'Courage..'

'Happiness…'

'Vitality…'

The words swirled in his head, with the flames.

'Is this what you seek?'

They were terrifying. He stumbled until he was in the centre and the four speakers at each side. They rose from the torch-lit paths. Like ornaments in temples. Like the statues of gods.

They repeated their questions.

'Yes!' he cried, finally. He didn't think, and if he did, it didn't matter. 'Yes, I seek those things.'

But more, he sought a way to save his brother.

Maybe those things would lead to his brother. The courage to save him. The wisdom that would tell him how. The vitality that would bring Shinya back to life. And their happy ever after ending.

'Then escape us.'

.

It took him a while to remember the riddle that had been sung to him as he fell. Precious minutes of dodging fires and stone axes and arrows. Precious minutes of opening doors until he almost collapsed – because all the doors led to stone figures and not one to the exit he sought.

And he didn't like it.

Actually, that was an understatement. He hated it. Because there was no way he could fight fire. Or stone weapons for that matter.

So he was just running away.

But, finally, his brain kicked in. And he realised the leaf was the forest and the croak was the frog – and the frog was his way out.

He leapt into the mouth of the frog.

.

'You made it.'

Takuya looked up. There was that cloaked young man again. 'You…'

The man held up a hand. 'Your test results.'

Takuya looked at him, then behind him. The four coloured things that had carried him were there, stacking themselves. His piles were rather small. Two were non-existent.

'Apprentice warrior,' the man sighed. 'There is room for potential.'

Takuya's face burned. His teachers often said that, when they were trying to be nice. It meant he'd gotten a poor result.

'What sort of test is this?' he asked.

'A test to determine your weapon,' the man replied, holding his hands in front of him as if to summon something. 'Or your shield.'

Takuya blinked. A sword appeared between the man's hands.

'This is your sword,' the man said. 'Find the five spheres that go in the hint and you will be able to unlock the door to the Tower of Destiny.'

'Tower of Destiny?' Takuya repeated. He took the sword.

'There, the Goddess of Fortune will grant you one wish.'

He understood then. If he found the five spheres and this door and the Goddess, he could get a dream fulfilled.

It sounded too good to be real, but he was sure and signed from running. It had to be real.

'Where do I find these jewels?' he asked.

'Where your heart tells you to find them,' the man replied.

And Takuya was falling again.

.

He woke up on a platform made of metal. It was cool. It soothed his skin. And it was comfortable as well. The sun was just a sliver on the horizon. Sunset? Or sunrise?

He pushed himself to his knees. Comfortable it may be, but the sooner he found those spheres, the sooner he could get back to his brother. And the sooner this mess could be fixed.

His sword was lying beside him, and he picked it up. It looked like it was made of wood but it felt like the steel he lay upon. Cold to touch, but it was rapidly warming under his palms. It felt his body heat.

There were five depressions in the hilt. Five places – for five spheres. They looked so small. If they were deeper he could stick his thumb into it and it would be a snug fit.

He was looking for five spheres just like that, and he hadn't a clue where to start.

And the sun was getting a little brighter.

It must be morning. Visiting hours would be starting up again.

Shinya…

He shook himself. He had a mission.

He was going to five those five spheres and get his brother back on his feet.

'Where to start…' he thought to himself, sheathing the sword.

He looked around. There was something that looked like a kettle, and a train station.

He stared between the both of them, then chose the kettle.

If the train station led home, he'd lose his chance.

I'll find these spheres, Shinya…and I'll get this wish for you.

And then, after that, I'm going to make damn sure I protect you.